Range Rules

 The following rules are critical to your safety and safety of all members and guests. Members or guests who do not follow these rules may be asked to leave by any other member.  Egregious or willful violations may be grounds for the Board to revoke membership.

1.  NO ALCOHOL, MARIJUANA OR DRUGS:  Consumption of alcohol, marijuana, or mind-altering substances before using or while on DCSC property is strictly prohibited.

2.  FIREARM CONDITION:  The Deer Creek Shooting Center operates under cold range rules.  This means all actions must be open on the firing line when not firing, and firearms unloaded and cased or holstered when not on the firing line.

3.  GUN HANDLING:  Absolutely no handling or loading of firearms is allowed while any person is downrange.

4.  MUZZLE DIRECTION:  All firearms on firing line must be pointed downrange only and, except for shotguns and rifles being carried and shotguns at the shotgun area, muzzles may not be pointed above the side berms at any time.

5.  ELEVATION OF FIRE:  Except for shotguns at the shotgun area, elevation of all fire must be kept below the top of the berms and the top of the target backers.

6.  NO SHOTGUNS ON DCSC TARGET BACKERS:  Shotguns may not be used on the target backers provided by the DCSC.  A target stand for mounting cardboard for patterning is provided at the shotgun area.

7.  RANGE CONTROL:  If four or more shooters are on the line at one time on one bay, one person must actively serve as a Range Officer to coordinate fire and cease fire.

8. BERMS:  Climbing or traversing the safety berms is strictly prohibited.

9.  YOUTH:  Youth under 16 years of age must be accompanied and directly supervised by an adult. Youth not shooting must remain behind the firing line.

10.  TWO GUESTS:  Annual or life members at least 21 years old may bring guests, but must directly accompany and effectively supervise any guests. The guest-hosting member is immediately responsible for all guests' full compliance with these Range Rules. Except for guests 14 years old and under, without prior approval from the WMFGA, a member may not host more than two guests at the same time or host the same guest more than twice in one year.

11.  TARGET LOCATIONS:  Targets may not be placed directly on the ground.  User-provided target stands may be used only on 50-yard and shorter bays.  On bays longer than 50 yards, use only the provided target backers, except for approved activities and members of approved clubs operating under club rules.

12.  CLOSE TARGETS ON LONG BAYS:  Because of possible skip and ricochet hazards, shooting at targets closer than 100 yards from shooting benches on 300-yard bays is not allowed. Shooting at targets closer than 25 yards from shooting benches on 100-yard bays is not allowed.

13.  NO BREAKABLE TARGETS:  Breakable targets may not be used, except for clay pigeons.

14.  PROHIBITED TARGETS:  Targets depicting real, identifiable, individual people are prohibited.

15.  TARGET BACKER PLACEMENT:  Do not move the target backers. Backers are set at prescribed distances. To shoot at closer target backers, use a shooting bay designed for close shooting.

16.  NO EXPLOSIVES OR INCENDIARIES:  Explosive targets and incendiary ammunition are prohibited.

17.  DRY FIRING:  Dry firing is allowed downrange only and only from firing points where loaded firearms may be used.

18.  LITTER:  All DCSC users must pick up and dispose of all trash, such as cans, targets, boxes, and shotshells.

19.  WILDLIFE:  Shooting at wildlife on premises is prohibited.

20.  FULL AUTOS:  Bipod or tripod-mounted full auto firearms are only allowed on the 300 yard ranges and 100-C. Hand-held full autos may only be used on bays 100A, 100B, 50A, 50B, and 50C.

21.  BAY-SPECIFIC RULES:  Rules specific to one shooting bay may be posted at that bay, such as at the Youth Bay, Archery Bay or Shotgun Bay.

22.  ARCHERY BAY:  Use of broadheads on DCSC target bales is prohibited. Use of broadheads is allowed on members' personal targets.

23.  GATE USE:  The gate must remain closed and locked upon every entrance and exit from the range, except for approved events.

24.  RANGE RULE SUSPENSION:  Any range rule may be suspended or revised for specific events approved by the Board of Directors.

25.  RULES ENFORCEMENT:  All members are authorized to enforce these range rules. Violation of any rule, vandalism, or any unsafe activity are grounds for membership revocation. Please report violations to anyone named on entrance gate or any BoD member.

26.  MEMBERSHIP:  No person is allowed onto the DCSC property unless that person is a member or is a guest of and actively supervised by a member, except for approved events.

27.  IDENTIFICATION:  Proof of membership must be shown to any WMFGA member upon request. Members must have credentials in possession to use the DCSC.

28.  SHOOTING HOURS:  The DCSC is open only during daylight hours.   

WMFGA's Mission

The WMFGA is a 501c3 nonprofit organization, located in Missoula, Montana. We are a membership-based organization that owns and operates the Deer Creek Shooting Center (DCSC).  The mission of the WMFGA is to provide safe and accessible recreational shooting to its members, foster firearm safety, encourage youth shooting opportunities, support and promote wildlife management for sportsmen, and protect Montanans' right to keep and bear arms.